KEPORT OP THE SECRETARY 9 



On Bering Island of the Commander Islands, the next stop of the 

 expedition, conditions were quite the reverse of those on the Pribi- 

 lofs. The south rookery had long since ceased to exist and the great 

 north rookery had been greatly reduced. On his last visit to this 

 rookery in 1879, Stejneger had estimated the number of breeding 

 seals there at 30,000. At the time of the present visit, there were 

 scarcely 2,000 left. 



The expedition next visited the Japanese fur seal island usually 

 known as Kobben Island in the Okhotsk Sea. Here the number of 

 fur seals has gradually increased until now they occupy not only the 

 entire eastern beach but are extending the rookery at both ends on 

 to the west side of the island. The Japanese have followed closely 

 the methods employed in managing the American seal herd on the 

 Pribilofs, and the result is most instructive in showing conclusively 

 that " protection does protect." Important information regarding 

 the Russian fur seal islands was obtained from Mr. Koltanovski and 

 Colonel Sokolnikof, and from Yokohama Doctor Stejneger took 

 passage back to the United States, having completed the inspection 

 of the fur seal rookeries. 



BOTANICAL EXPLORATION IN COLOMBIA 



From April to October, 1922, Dr. Francis W. Pennell, of the Phil- 

 adelphia Academy of Natural Sciences, and Mr. Ellsworth P. Killip, 

 of the National Museum, carried on botanical exploration in the 

 Republic of Colombia. The expedition was organized by several 

 institutions as part of a general plan for the botanical study of 

 northern South America. Financial assistance was also given by 

 Mr. Oakes Ames, who was especially interested in the orchids of the 

 region. 



Entering the country at Buenaventura on the Pacific side, the 

 expedition established headquarters at La Cumbre in the Western 

 Cordillera, for the purpose of studying the vegetation of the central 

 part of this range. Descending to the city of Cali, the party pro- 

 ceeded up the Cauca Valley to Popayan, and from this point explored 

 the southern portions of both the central and western Cordilleras. 

 Later the expedition visited Salento, in the northern part of the Cen- 

 tral Range, and Ibague and Bogota, collecting material at historic 

 localities along the Quindiu Trail. Approximately 7,200 members 

 were collected, sufficient material being secured to make up equal 

 sets for each of the institutions represented in the expedition. 



In his report on the work, Mr. Killip says : 



As might be expected from its physiography, the vegetation of Colombia is 

 extremely diverse. Within a few miles may occur a luxuriant tropical flora, 

 the more open woods of the temperate zone, and the low alpine growth familiar 

 on our American mountain tops. Again, as in the Dagua Valley, one may ride 

 through a dense rain forest, filled with ferns, mosses, and aroids, to emerge 



